joan week 1 health system, support the argument
The healthcare policy is universal health coverage which refers to a pooled prepaid health care financing system that promotes access to health as a social service through the protection of patients from the harmful consequences of out-of-pocket payments (Abiiro and Allegri, 2015). While the United States has experienced drastic healthcare reforms through the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the program is short of the universal coverage promoted by the World Health Organization and endorsed by the United Nations as the best healthcare reform especially in developed nations. The system of universal care promotes access to promotive and preventive health care and also makes it easier to access rehabilitative and curative services through a legally assured health insurance provided by the government that acts as the only health care payer.
According to Ranabhat, Atkinson, Park, Kim, and Jakovljevic (2018), the concept of universal health coverage is part of the larger global health care initiative which involves goals where individuals are covered by a adequate combination of quality health services as well as protection from the rising costs of health care. The issue impacts the nursing profession since it can affect the number of people who can access required healthcare services and how they engage in health promotion behaviors, which in time can influence public health outcomes. Costs are a huge barrier to healthcare access which creates inequalities and contributes to adverse health events including higher preventable mortality and morbidity rates. I support the provision of universal healthcare in the United States since health has primarily been commercialized with ever-rising costs of health services and pharmacological products which drive people away from health seeking practices and create disparities along ethnic and economic classes in the country. A universal health care concept understands that health should be made available to all citizens as a element that reduces health disparities and move towards better health outcomes, as well as improved access and promote preventive health services. A study conducted by Sohn (2018) determined that major health disparities are present across different ethnic groups in regard to insurance coverage and was also determined to be a predictor of the health-seeking behaviors among American populations. The study noted that Hispanics and African Americans were more likely to be limited in accessing health services due to lack of financial abilities or health care coverage. Bergmark and Sedaghat (2017) also noted that socioeconomic status was a significant cause of disparities related to access and quality of care received. Lack of health insurance was associated with higher rates of preventable diseases, reliance on emergency services, increased mortality and morbidity, non-adherence to medications, and adverse health events (Bergmark & Sedaghat, 2017). As such, eliminating the sources of health disparities through the implementation of universal health care in the United States can be a significant cause of improved public health.
References,
Abiiro, G. A., & De Allegri, M. (2015). Universal health coverage from multiple perspectives: a synthesis of conceptual literature and global debates. BMC international health and human rights, 15, 17. doi:10.1186/s12914-015-0056-9
Bergmark, R. W., & Sedaghat, A. R. (2017). Disparities in health in the United States: An overview of the social determinants of health for otolaryngologists. Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology, 2(4), 187-193. doi:10.1002/lio2.81
Ranabhat, C., Atkinson, J., Park, M., Kim, C., & Jakovljevic, M. (2018). The Influence of Universal Health Coverage on Life Expectancy at Birth (LEAB) and Healthy Life Expectancy (HALE): A Multi-Country Cross-Sectional Study. Frontiers in pharmacology, 9, 960.
Sohn H. (2016). Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Insurance Coverage: Dynamics of Gaining and Losing Coverage over the Life-Course. Population research and policy review, 36(2), 181-201.
